Building a tribe, upholding tribute

Veterans hold a special place in Scrubby’s heart.  

Scrubby – what locals call the town of Walkerston and neighbouring Pleystowe – has always paid significant tribute to its past and present service people. 

At Greenmount Homestead, nine trees form an Avenue of Honour for the Pleystowe sons who never returned from WWII. Every year, a local Sub Branch member handmakes special wreaths to lay beneath them. 

Scrubby’s ANZAC Day commemorations are a community-wide effort, with everyone from the Rural Fire Brigade to police, cadets, schools and sports clubs getting involved. 

The highway through Walkerston even gets closed for the occasion, according to Walkerston-Pleystowe RSL Sub Branch President Rod Francisco. 

“We literally close the Peak Downs Highway, the main route to the mines, for our ANZAC Day service,” Rod explains.  

“And the service is packed; we probably have a couple of thousand [around half the community] attending. 

“We have a very strong sense of community, and we get a lot of feedback about how well connected people in Scrubby feel towards veterans and commemorative services. And that's what we want to build.” 

Reconnecting with mates and purpose 

Joining the RSL gave Rod a sense of belonging and purpose he didn’t know he needed.  

After 21 years in the Army, the Iraq and East Timor veteran had “had enough”.  

 “I disconnected from the veteran community for 10 years after I left the military,” he says. “I just didn't want to be involved.” 

That was, until someone convinced him to attend a few Sub Branch meetings. 

“I felt very strongly connected to it,” he says. “I felt like I belonged and people were very welcoming. So, I got involved, got some projects and then got Shanghaied into President – which I'm very happy and proud to be.” 

Joining the Sub Branch has been just as rewarding for Secretary and RSL Central Queensland District Vice President Dan Peters, who served in East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. 

“I think after a certain time out of Defence, you find that you need that reconnection with the tribe,” Dan says. 

“After I got out, there was a bit of a honeymoon period of, ‘This is awesome – something new, something different’. 

“Then, for about six years, I actually questioned my decision to get out because I'd left all my mates behind and couldn't find that connection or purpose again.” 

When Dan attended his first Sub Branch meeting, “it all changed”.  

“I got that connection back. I got that tribe back – that purpose of not helping my country now, but helping veterans,” he says.  

“As Secretary, helping someone apply for a dental and allied health subsidy, or finding a chair for an older guy with mobility issues, that's something I can do now that gives me a bit of purpose.” 

Dan says the mateship and support of fellow Sub Branch members – young and old – has helped his physical and mental health. 

“Because we have such a close-knit Sub Branch, we can talk to each other about stuff that guys don't usually talk about,” he says.  

“The Vietnam boys have been through what the younger veterans have been through as well. I think that's what makes our Sub Branch unique and really welcoming.” 

Bringing younger veterans together 

Walkerston-Pleystowe Sub Branch strives to recreate this sense of ‘tribe’, especially for younger veterans who disperse after transition. 

“They tend not to come back to the communities they're originally from, or they don't have a strong connection to the community they end up in,” Rod explains. 

“We need to tell them that the veteran community is here for them and give them that sense of belonging.” 

Rod and Dan are also using their insights as younger veterans to bring more of their peers into the fold. 

“We really are trying to engage more with younger veterans to get them to come and engage with each other – to give them that sense of camaraderie, but also allow them to feel comfortable about coming to commemorative services,” Rod says. 

“On ANZAC Day this year, I saw probably a dozen younger veterans in the crowd who don't quite feel comfortable standing up the front with other veterans.  

“Our aim is encourage them – they don't have to stand amongst their mates – and bring them forward. So, we very much tune our ANZAC Day services to a more modern approach.” 

The Sub Branch has also established annual events to recognise more recent conflicts, including an East Timor service (held on 3 March – the National Veterans’ Day of Timor-Leste) and a Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) dinner and service, which this year will take place on 19 October. 

“It doesn't matter whether it's Afghanistan, Iraq, the Persian Gulf – we hold that every year,” Rod says. “We have younger veterans come from as far away as Rockhampton and Emerald, and we’ll hopefully get a couple from Townsville this year.” 

Rod and Dan – who juggle day jobs with their RSL responsibilities – also hope their profiles as Sub Branch leaders will encourage other younger veterans to join or get involved. 

“On ANZAC Day people see us and go, ‘You served in East Timor, you served in Iraq, you served in Afghanistan’. They’re places that younger veterans can relate to,” Rod says. 

“So, it's really important for us to become that face of the RSL going forward, so people connect to us, the veteran community and the services that the RSL provides.” 

A place for everyone who’s served  

While attracting younger veterans is a key focus for Walkerston-Pleystowe Sub Branch, veterans of all ages are equally welcome and recognised. 

“I think the biggest lesson learned [from past generations] is having open arms, an open mind and embracing every veteran for what they are,” Rod says.  

“A lot of our Vietnam veterans said they felt isolated. So, how do we make our Sub Branch more welcoming and engaging for people? Our Vietnam vets felt that certain things weren't recognised. We do that. 

“Yes, we do ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, but we also make sure our Sub Branch members are aware of and attend other commemorative activities.” 

“There are people out there that go, ‘I only did this’ or ‘I only did that’,” Dan adds. “So what? You signed on the line; you were prepared to be deployed. 

“Become a member. Come back into the fold. You might enjoy it. You might need some help. You might find that connection again.” 

“We have a saying: ‘Never walk alone’,” Rod says. “No veteran in our Sub Branch or in our community will ever walk alone.” 

Staying strong for the future 

Through many community activities – including an annual school bursary and ANZAC Day charity football match (co-run with Marian RSL Sub Branch) – Walkerston-Pleystowe Sub Branch is working hard to keep Scrubby, its veterans and their legacy thriving for many years to come.  

“I think it’s almost our obligation to make sure the Sub Branch is strong and healthy for future veterans, so they have a place where they can have a yarn to somebody if they're having a hard time or need help with a claim or just a friendly chat,” Dan says. 

Rod has a lot of pride in the impact his Sub Branch is making. 

“It’s really strongly connected to veterans, the RSL and our community,” he says. 

“At every ANZAC Day service, members of the community come up to very genuinely thank us for what we've done and for helping other veterans and building that sense of community.  

“We never struggle to get people to come and support our activities, and I think it's just fantastic.  

“I’m very proud to be the President, very proud of Dan as Secretary. I'm very proud of our Sub Branch and the members.”  

Keen to join or volunteer with RSL Queensland? Find your local RSL Sub Branch and become a member.